As tensions rise between the US and Mexico, 19 people were killed in a gunfight between alleged members of the Cartel and Mexican government employees on Saturday. The attack occurred in the small city of Villa Union, just an hour from the US border. Mexican authorities stated that they took immediate and forceful defensive action against the Cartel members, resulting in the death of 13 suspected Cartel members, four police officers, and two civilians.
The clash follows statements made by US President Donald Trump in which he announced plans to declare Mexican cartels terrorist groups in response to increasing violence. The suggestion worried Mexican officials who believe the declaration of cartels as terrorist organizations could be pretext to sending the US military into Mexican territory.
Read More: 19 Dead In Mexican Cartel Shootout Near U.S. Border
